David Byrne's American Utopia on Broadway Tickets

By: David
By: rne
Producer: Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Patrick Catullo and Todomundo
Cast list: David
By: rne with Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stephane San Juan, Angie Swan and Bobby Wooten III
Lighting: Rob Sinclair
Choreography: Annie-B Parson
Sound: Pete Keppler
Other info: Music Direction by Karl Mansfield and Production Consultation by Alex Timbers

In what easily qualifies as one of the flat-out coolest things to ever happen on Broadway, David Bryne brings his American Utopia back to Broadway, the same as it ever was. Get American Utopia tickets now.

Byrne, who established himself firmly in the coolness mainstream as the lead singer of the Talking Heads, gets the show’s title from his recent album of the same name. However, American Utopia on Broadway is not be a mere concert but rather a full-blown theatrical spectacle.

With the help of production consultant Alex Timbers (who certainly knows a thing or two about spectacle since he directed Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! The Musical) as well as choreographer and musical stager Annie-B Parson, this form-bending experience features a dozen onstage musicians, and tunes from Byrne’s vast songbook — as well as some surprises from outside of it. Beyond that, details are scarce and the visionary performer would like to keep it that way. “I’m not going to tell you what I think it’s about,” Byrne tells The New York Times. “That’s for you to see.”

Get tickets to American Utopia in New York on TodayTix.

What to Watch For

• Although American Utopia marks Byrne’s Broadway debut, it’s far from his first time dipping his toes into theatrical waters. He previously authored both Joan of Arc: Into the Fire and Here Lies Love. Both of those shows are marked by more characteristically “Broadway” traits, while American Utopia is neither play nor musical, according to Byrne.
• American Utopia also reunites the “Byrne dream team.” For both of his previous theatrical outings, Joan of Arc: Into the Fire and Here Lies Love, he collaborated with Alex Timbers and Annie-B Parson. However Timbers, here, serves as the production consultant, while Parson is heading up both staging and choreography.
• It's hard to put a precise finger on American Utopia for another reason: It’s a confluence of mediums. The show was first an album before that album became a touring concert production (which traveled to a whopping 27 countries in 2018), before finally making its way to a proscenium stage for yet another new configuration suited for Broadway.
• American Utopia has universal appeal, and not just because of its universal source material. The 12 musicians onstage hail from all corners of the world, across countries and continents. Fortunately, rhythm is the same in every language.

The show is recommended for all ages.